Malawi set up 8 Tanzanian Environmentalists and detains them arbitarily since more than 2 months

28. March 2017

The court proceedings in the case of Malawi against 8 Tanzanian environmental defenders have shown without doubt that the 8 persons detained had been lured into a trap set up by Malawi authorities, they were then arrested under the pretense of “trespassing”; 5 Malawian accompanyiing them, arrested at the very same spot, were set free again immediately.

Another alleged charge refering to “carrying out a reconnaissance activity” re: mineral resources – with a vacuum (thermos) flask and a pH-testing-paper as pieces of evidence – proofed to be completely unsubstantiated after the Director of Mines in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, called as a witness by the state prosecutor, confessed in court on 22. February that all the suspects did not need any licence for the activities planned (which they never were able to carry out).

The court case has been postponed 8 times, and the final ruling was postponed twice for three weeks each time.

Since more than 5 weeks, the detained persons are now waiting for a ruling in a case where the charges have long since become obsolete, detained arbitrarily by Malawi authorities.

It is obvious that the 8 Tanzanians are either detained for their activities critical of uranium mining, or they serve Malawi authorities as a colleteral in a border conflict with Tanzania; in any case, they are detained arbitrarily.

The case has been picked up by FRONTLINE DEFENDERS, and UN Special Rapporteurs on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, and on Human Rights and the Environment, have been informed.

The judgement has been announced for Thursday, 30. or Friday 31. March; according to the ongoings in the court case, the only fair jugedment is a complete acquittal of the 8 detained persons. Unfortunately, there are indications that the court may not be making its decision alone, but that the Government on the highest level may have an influence.